Cillian Murphy is currently at the top of his game, with his Oscar-worthy performance in Oppenheimer, which is doing outstandingly well at the box office. Likewise, Tom Hardy has always brought versatility to the distinct antagonist and protagonist roles he has played so far. This talented duo has been frequent collaborators with legendary filmmaker Christopher Nolan and has starred together in three of his projects.
Aside from these popular movies, they have also played roles opposite each other in the renowned BBC series Peaky Blinders. Every time the duo shares the screen, their impeccable performances not only give the audience a visual treat, but also elevate the commercial success of the productions themselves. Aside from working together onscreen, they also share a good bond in real life and are often seen singing praises of each other’s chemistry and acting. So, let’s get to know more about the projects that Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy have worked together on and about their respective roles in detail.
1Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)
Created and Written by Steven Knight, Peaky Blinders is a story that takes place right after World War I and is set in Birmingham. It’s about a criminal street gang called Peaky Blinders, headed by the youngest child and patriarch of the family, Thomas Shelby, played by Murphy. Thomas Shelby used to be a clay-kicker and has received medals of gallantry for his service, which he doesn’t care about, and thus he threw it away in a canal. He suffers from PTSD, but is still good at maintaining a calm and dangerous demeanor upfront and is determined to be the best and most powerful in business. His strength is his family, and he won’t hesitate to shoot someone dead if anyone tries to mess with them or harm them.
Hardy plays Alfie Solomons, the head of Jewish criminal gang, and is introduced in Peaky Blinders Season 2. Alfie has many qualities; he is smart, rational, and straightforward, but he excels at one quality in particular: betrayal. Initially, he joins hands with Thomas Shelby against Darby Sabini’s forces, but soon becomes friends with the enemies by deceiving him. Even though it’s interesting to witness this complex yet fascinating relationship between Thomas and Alfie, it’s also intriguing to know what intellectual moves these two strong characters make against each other and their enemies.
In a recent interview, Murphy praised Hardy by calling him “one of the best actors in the business” and also expressed his interest in working with him as they have developed good trust and chemistry. Even though Murphy hinted at working with him in the upcoming Peaky Blinders film, but he still isn’t sure about it (via GQ). As of now, it’s not yet confirmed if Hardy will appear in the movie, but he can be expected to reprise the role as he played a major part in the series.
